Top 25 breakout players who will be household names in 2021

College football: Top 25 breakout players who will be household names in 2021

LUBBOCK, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 26: Running back Bijan Robinson #5 of the Texas Longhorns runs the ball during the first half of the college football game against the Texas Longhorns on September 26, 2020 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /

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Josh Whyle, Cincinnati Bearcats. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports /

16. Josh Whyle, TE, Cincinnati

Expectations are for Cincinnati to be one of the best Group of 5 teams in college football once again in the 2021 season. The Bearcats have Desmond Ridder back at quarterback and the defense should be a stonewalling force once again. What can’t be overlooked, though, is that Ridder is going to need to find another go-to target in the passing offense now that Dez Fitzpatrick is on the Tennessee Titans.

Tight end Josh Whyle could be that guy. No, he doesn’t have the speed or overall ability of Fitzpatrick but the 6-foot-6, 235-pound pass-catcher is still a more than viable weapon. In 10 games last year, Whyle caught 28 passes for 353 yards and six touchdowns. He was a red-zone weapon who made a big impact but, with targets no available, he’s an exceedingly likely candidate to jump into a bigger role and take full advantage of it.

15. Jaylen Hall, WR, Western Michigan

DeVonta Smith led the country in just about every statistical category en route to winning the Heisman last season. One that he didn’t lead college football in, however, was yards per reception. That distinction belonged to then-junior Western Michigan wide receiver Jaylen Hall who went for an unreal 26.9 yards per reception last season.

Hall’s numbers for the Broncos were just absurd. In five games, he only caught 12 passes but still somehow went off for 323 yards and seven touchdowns. He’s a burner that can dominate the MAC with his speed but, with D’Wayne Eskridge in the same wide receiver room, he just didn’t have a massive role. Now that his former teammate is in the NFL, though, the door is open for Hall to become a more consistent contributor and, if he can be the same type of lethal deep threat, he’s going to turn a ton of heads.